Quitting on anything (hockey, school, work, family, friends or life) isn't the answer.  It's only a short term solution that takes away forever your ability to come up with any other solutions.  So don't even think about it.  EVER!!!!!
     All you boys need to do is hang in there one game at a time.  And then another. And then another.  If trying to take it one game at a time is too much, then take it one period at a time, or even one shift at a time.  "For just this minute, I am going to keep going. "  I will face adversity in the face and become better and stronger. To think that the best do not fall from grace is crazy.  Once again guys, I say “whatever it takes to win."  Tomorrow is a New day!!!!

Coach

          Back from another road trip which we picked up two out of three wins. It's like a fishing trip where you do all right, but still short of a limit. I was looking for a full stringer! We have now beaten both Winnipeg Clubs, something the Northstars haven't done since they went down to two teams. With our goaltending tandem each picking up a win, Ryan and Mitchell both played well in those games. Having bus troubles before Friday's game, the kids ate their pre-game two hours before start time and responded with a solid effort. Saturday's game saw the Wild take it to us in the first, the boys came out in the second to turn the tables and stay in the game. With the score being 2-1 for the Wild, I really thought the guys were going to come out flying for the third. That didn't happen, we left Ryan hanging out to dry, no support, and a poor effort, the Wild walked away with a convincing win. Heading home on Sunday, the team gave a solid effort for 60 minutes and took the second win of the weekend, with Mitchell making some big saves.

      Some notables over the weekend were Jaron, Kielbasa, our Goonie, Wayne and Roger. A couple others that need recognition are Lorne, Kane and Dylan. They battle hard, play a lot and can take a tongue lashing better than any, and still keep their heads high. My type of player!

      I am sending out a message to the players. Do Not stray too far from the center line, if you do, there will be a response that you will not like! I have thought about my credibility and values. And at the end of the day, come hell or high water, we will be a hard working, disciplined Hockey Team!

      Update on the coaching and support staff. Stubert is on the mend. Dustin filled in nicely. He also figured out the dress code. And the Five Star Hot Dog review should be posted this week!

      Remember boys 22 and counting! The coaching staff believes in you, now believe in yourselves!!!

      Coach

I don't think I will comment too much on last weekend's series against Yellowhead.  Same old, same old, undisciplined penalties.  If the players stick to their plan, they will fail, that is the truth!  If they want to act and behave as "a team", they have proven to play with the best.  Their actions off the ice is a direct reflection of their play on the ice!  This coming weekend, with three games against Division rivals, will be a twelve point weekend.  Could be the TSN turning point.  Worth noting is a couple of things I did like about last weekend; the physical play of Dylan Hykawy and the hustle from Austin Monias, TJ Tootoo and Kenton Fayant!
    

This weekend we have a Saturday afternoon game, which is nice and will allow the team to go and take in a Moose Game.  The team will also be dining at one of our traditional eateries, which always brings smiles to the boy’s faces!
    

Upcoming events for the team includes volunteering at the Northern Spirit Way (personal care home), great stuff guys!! They will be Christmas decorating at the personal care home during the week of November 23rd - 27th.
    

Also, we are helping to promote female hockey in the Norman region. There will be an exhibition game Nov. 22nd with the Norman Wild AA Female Midget Hockey Team.  This being our 25th Year and their 1st Year, I encourage everyone to come out and support girl’s/women's hockey in the north!!!
    

The Northstars paid tribute to the veterans of all wars by keeping their helmets on during the playing of our National Anthem at last Saturday's game against Yellowhead.  Lest we forget!

Coach

With Halloween over, I think it is time for the Northstars to get out of the trick or treat mode and get back to hockey.  After taking two games on the chin from the Wheat Kings, looks like a wheel has fallen off the wagon.  Not to take anything from Brandon, but we played horrible.  It boggles my mind how we can play very well one weekend, then do a 360° and crap the bed.
    

These kids are changing, not from generation to generation, but year to year.  My pet peeve is cell phones.  On the road I have control of taking them away, at home I am asking for the support of their parents and billeting parents.  Please take those frigging phones away.  Late for school, missing school, being tired for games is from one thing only, staying up all night texting!  Their idea of game preparation is to send off that last text ten minutes prior to warm ups.  I took their phones away after the embarrassment playing the Thrashers.  Jumping, Joe, Jessus, they had a melt down!  I kept their phones all the way back to Ponton when I decided to give them back so they could phone ahead to make arrangements to have rides pick them up when we arrive back in town. With one and a half hours left, they were told to shut off the lights and get some sleep as the next morning was work/school.  Two minutes later, I sat up in my seat to take a look at the back of the bus, and all I saw was a blue haze from each of their faces.  Unbelievable, they cannot function without them.
    

Against Brandon, I have to say we were by far the more physical team; it was evident with all the complaining and emotion coming from that bench.  What is frustrating is that as coaches we know that taking the body is part of the game, no coach wants his team to lie down and die, but to wear their jersey with pride.  The Northstars will lie down for no one! We will not just hand over two points on a silver platter.
    

Here is some food for thought.  I have received league memos directing the refs to hand out a warning to teams when neck guards are not properly worn.  The second time this happens the player is to be assessed a two minute minor penalty.  Not in Thompson!!  On our last road trip I was told by the ref to just play the game.  I informed him that the rule was put in place for the player’s safety.  I informed him that I would personally hold him responsible if he did not address this infraction.  He addressed it.  We make the kids touch gloves at the end of the game (H1N1), but they can line up across from one another at a face off or battle in tight corners for the puck, does the touching of the gloves really make sense?
    

Oh well, let's get ready for Yellowhead and toss the phones in the garbage!

Coach

Am I happy that road trip is over! For me those four gamers are just too long. Now if you’re a player, mind you, I got to believe that you’d love it, bus ride, hotels, hockey games, no school, just on the road playing a game you cherish! It was a bitter sweet weekend, winning two, losing two. Played fine for a couple then the boys disappeared off the face of the earth, at least that part of the body that is above the shoulders.

The team played in some different rinks on the weekend, which was kind of neat. Other than our 4th game out in Selkirk, that is! What was with the game time and changes, threatening refs and all that drama? Which brings me to my question…why don’t the two Winnipeg teams play in Winnipeg, anyway? Maybe it is some kind of trick or something....just joking.

Got some good news on the weekend, Zac got a clean bill of health and will resume practicing this week. This will give the team a seventh defenseman. Our defensive core has the ability to play at this level, but has yet to reach that plateau. Now having Zac back, he will push the others to step it up or find themselves sitting on the bench. That comfort zone they seemed to have found is GONE! Ryan Delorme played well again, but has started to play a bit outside his boundaries. To be a top goalie in our league he must keep his game simple, and keep it at that. Mitchell got some game time on the weekend and did a fine job. Slowly he will see more ice time as he will be the go to guy next year. What Mitchell brings to the rink is a great attitude, wish that would rub off on the rest of the team. I would hope the players know what I mean. The team has been able to put the puck in the net for the most part, but as the other teams get better, our offensive players must get smarter! I said earlier in the year that we would see where the team sits in comparison to the rest of the league…..look at the standings. But if the players do not keep their noses to the grind stone and egos in check, they are not far from being the cellar dwellers! That part of the body that disappeared on the weekend must be found and hung on to for the next four, five months.

Something new that I heard is coming through the grape vine is " Jerry's Five Star Hotdog Review". Being a connoisseur of the weenie, Jerry will be telling you which rink has the best hotdog in the province. And I can honestly say he knows his hotdog!

Doug

     Well this past weekend we had the Kenora Thistles in town for a couple of pretty good games of hockey.  Kenora is a much improved team compared to last year.  And I have to believe they're excited about the start to their season.  With that said, I believe the Northstars played decent in both games, but, unfortunately the team was only rewarded with two points for their effort.  The bottom line is that if the team was hoping for a sweep, they will have to learn to play hard on a consistent basis.  To say you are only as good as your last game is false.  You are only as good as the game you are playing in!  We had some glorious scoring chances on Saturday only to be turned away by a very good performance from the Kenora tender.  Seeing the frustration in the eyes of a couple of the Northstar players for not capitalizing on their chances is not a concern for the coaches.  We know full well as long as you are getting the chances, you have to be doing something right.  It's when those chances disappear that concern starts to grow. Still need to fine tune our attitudes, it is the team's success that counts not the individual.

     As we get ready for this weekend’s four game road trip, and not to take anything away from all the teams in the league, but what was someone thinking.  The Wild, Eastman, P.V. and The Thrashers.  But if you look around the League this year, at a glance it looks like there is a lot of parody, which should make for some real great games.  Seems like anybody could beat anyone, on any given night.

     Want to thank Colleen and Kent for doing the Northstar logos on the dressing room walls, looks super!  Big kudos to Colette for working on the Web Page, looks great!  Awesome pictures!

     Update when we get back from this road trip, four games in four nights, geez, I don't even have enough dress clothes!

Coach

              I would like to welcome everyone back to Northstar Hockey, the teams 25th Season in the League!! Congrats! We are into our first five games and off to a better start than last season, which wouldn't be very hard to do. The next six games are going to be the important ones and will give the coaches a snap shot of the season ahead. The team should have some fire power with the return of last year's top goal scorer and point leader. Also, having Ryan Delorme back in goal for his third year will give the boys some confidence, knowing he will give them a chance to win when he is in net. With a new year comes new players, roles and  responsibilities. Tough start having two key vets out of the line up with injuries, the rest will have to pick up the slack and respond quicker to systems and buy in. All hockey players know which end is which and where the puck should go. The learning is for the players to understand how to play defensive hockey. Good defense creates good offense! Offensive hockey is lazy hockey, hard up the ice, shoot the goose coming back. I don't want those players and don't need their attitude. Last I checked there wasn't a Pond League for Pond Players!!

              Playing in the new rink is a treat compared to the cooler we played in last season. Got a great group of parents who like to get together and talk hockey, have a couple of pops, maybe even shake a leg if the music is right. I am looking forward to the winter ahead. A new looking executive is working hard, learning as they go, but will make the 25th year a success!

              Great to see past players doing well with their respective teams! Matt B. is having a fantastic start to his season, leading rookie defensemen in the MJHL with points and the Kings in first place. Go Matty! Boys in Flin Flon, giver crap, what ever it takes! Opie, you take it easy on Flin Flon! I want to congratulate and wish Cory Nygaard the best this year, good job Cory.

           Coach